March 23, 2009
Stephanie Schierholz
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-4997
stephanie.schierholz@nasa.gov
Sara Borchik
Auburn University, Ala.
334-844-3591
borchse@auburn.edu
MEDIA ADVISORY: M09-043
NASA HONORS APOLLO AND SHUTTLE ASTRONAUT THOMAS K. MATTINGLY
WASHINGTON -- NASA will honor astronaut Thomas K. "Ken" Mattingly, II,
with the presentation of an Ambassador of Exploration Award for his
contributions to the U.S. space program. During a ceremony on
Thursday, March 26, Mattingly will accept the award at the Samuel
Ginn College of Engineering at Auburn University in Alabama and
present it for display at the university.
NASA is giving the Ambassador of Exploration Award to the first
generation of explorers in the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space
programs for realizing America's goal of going to the moon. The award
is a moon rock encased in Lucite, mounted for public display. The
rock is part of the 842 pounds of lunar samples collected during six
Apollo expeditions from 1969 to 1972.
Mattingly was born in Chicago and received his bachelor's degree in
aeronautical engineering from Auburn University in 1958. He was the
command module pilot for the Apollo 16 mission. He also was
designated command module pilot for the Apollo 13 flight, but he was
removed from flight status 72 hours before the scheduled launch
because of exposure to the German measles. Mattingly is one of a few
Apollo astronauts who also flew aboard the space shuttle. He was the
shuttle commander on missions STS-4 and STS 51-C. For biographical
information about Mattingly, visit:
http://www11.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/mattingly-tk.html
Beginning Wednesday, NASA Television will air a video file with
highlights from Mattingly's missions. For NASA TV downlink, schedule
and streaming video information, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
For information about and pictures of the NASA Ambassador of
Exploration Award, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/AofEphotos.html
For more information about Auburn University, visit:
http://www.auburn.edu
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